Two men have been charged with murder in Tuesday’s brutal quadruple homicide in Troy, N.Y. James W. White and Justin C. Mann were charged with multiple counts of murder in the deaths of 36-year-old Shanta Myers; her 11-year-old son, Jeremiah; her 5-year-old daughter, Shanise; and Myers’ partner, 22-year-old Brandi Mells.

During a Saturday-afternoon press conference, Troy Police Chief John Tedesco said that one of the men charged knew one of the victims, but he did not disclose who or what their relationship was, according to the Washington Post.

The murders happened Dec. 21, but the bodies were not discovered until Tuesday, after the property manager at the building the victims lived in was alerted by family members that they had not been heard from.

Tedesco said that a motive has yet to be determined, but described the murders as “savagery.”

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“After being in this business for almost 42 years, I can’t describe the savagery of this,” Tedesco told reporters Wednesday.

Both men have been charged with one count of murder in the first degree and four counts of murder in the second degree. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 4.